Todd P
Encyclopedia
Todd P is an organizer and promoter of underground DIY and indie rock
shows and parties in New York City. Patrick was born in 1975 in Indiana.
Before relocating to the New York City area in 2001, Patrick founded and ran a successful all-ages rock club and art space in Portland, Oregon
called Seventeen Nautical Miles.
In 2001 Patrick began organizing concerts in Brooklyn, New York under the name "Todd P", first at several lofts, and later in the upstairs lounge of the Cafe Right Bank in Williamsburg
. Patrick garnered particular attention for throwing events in the diminutive back room of Tommy's Tavern in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
.
Todd P's shows now provide a forum for indie rock acts to perform, primarily in the Williamsburg
, Greenpoint
, and Bushwick
areas of Brooklyn, New York, and in the Lower East Side
of Manhattan. Patrick's shows have hosted bands on independent labels
, including Vice Records, Jagjagwuar, Kill Rock Stars
, K Records
, Ecstatic Peace!, Load Records
, and others. Past performers at Todd P shows have included Lightning Bolt, Matt and Kim
, Japanther
, Animal Collective
, Black Dice
, Xiu Xiu
, Ex Models
, Deerhunter
, Mount Eerie
, Dirty Projectors
, Dan Deacon
, Black Lips
, Thermals, Hella
, Yacht
, Spank Rock
, The Slits
, The Fall, and Sonic Youth
's Thurston Moore
.
Patrick has received press coverage in The Village Voice
, Time Out New York, New York Press
, and The New York Times
, among other outlets.
Patrick is widely acknowledged within the New York indie rock
community for consistently selecting and attracting edgy musical performers for his concerts, as well as for working to organize events for apparently little financial gain. Patrick also has expressed a dedication to punk
and D.I.Y. ethics in interviews.
Patrick continues to organize rock shows and has sought to open his own venue. Towards that goal, Patrick briefly threw shows at a larger, unlicensed space that he rented and operated independently, named the Llano Estacado.
The Llano Estacado was a performance and art space that Patrick operated in the model of several predecessor creative spaces in Brooklyn such as the Rubulad, the Mighty Robot, BPM, the Glasshouse, and the Woodser - with no legal status, but with Patrick's stated goal of eventually taking the space legal if the location proved feasible. The Llano Estacado operated successfully for several months in 2005, quickly attracting huge crowds and garnering favorable coverage from New York City media outlets such as The New York Times
, The New York Sun, The New York Post, New York Magazine, and others.
The rapid success of the Llano Estacado raised the notice of the local 94th Precinct NYPD police, who entered the building without a warrant in early March 2005 and issued several summonses to Patrick and other collaborators who used the building for hosting events. Patrick successfully fought these citations, but did not risk using the building for events again.
Thereafter, Todd P resumed organizing shows at various bars, clubs, and other lofts and warehouses around the New York City, with his fan base and access to larger-drawing bands growing over time.
In interviews, Patrick has stated an interest in seeking out compelling bands and acts, coupled with an expressed loyalty to the ethics of D.I.Y punk rock. Traditionally, these ethics reject corporate influence, as well as a resistance to high ticket prices, velvet-rope elitism, v.i.p. policies, and publicity machine hype. Patrick frequently locates his events at all-ages and atypical venues, with the stated goal of fighting age discrimination.
Todd P arguably exerts influence in shaping the NYC and national indie rock
scenes, given his role as an independent show organizer and a "tastemaker" in a region boasting both a huge concentration of "in-the-know" music fans, as well as the base offices of many of the press outlets who cover independent music.db-spam
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
shows and parties in New York City. Patrick was born in 1975 in Indiana.
Before relocating to the New York City area in 2001, Patrick founded and ran a successful all-ages rock club and art space in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
called Seventeen Nautical Miles.
In 2001 Patrick began organizing concerts in Brooklyn, New York under the name "Todd P", first at several lofts, and later in the upstairs lounge of the Cafe Right Bank in Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
. Patrick garnered particular attention for throwing events in the diminutive back room of Tommy's Tavern in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Greenpoint is the northernmost neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is bordered on the southwest by Williamsburg at the Bushwick inlet, on the southeast by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and East Williamsburg, on the north by Newtown Creek and Long Island City, Queens at the...
.
Todd P's shows now provide a forum for indie rock acts to perform, primarily in the Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
, Greenpoint
Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Greenpoint is the northernmost neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is bordered on the southwest by Williamsburg at the Bushwick inlet, on the southeast by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and East Williamsburg, on the north by Newtown Creek and Long Island City, Queens at the...
, and Bushwick
Bushwick, Brooklyn
Bushwick is a neighborhood in the northern part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood, formerly Brooklyn's 18th Ward, is now part of Brooklyn Community Board 4...
areas of Brooklyn, New York, and in the Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
of Manhattan. Patrick's shows have hosted bands on independent labels
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, including Vice Records, Jagjagwuar, Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
, K Records
K Records
K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
, Ecstatic Peace!, Load Records
Load Records
Load Records is an American noise/experimental independent record label based out of Providence, Rhode Island. "Load Records might possibly be in possession of the world's most challenging record roster," writes Mark Hensch of Thrash Pit...
, and others. Past performers at Todd P shows have included Lightning Bolt, Matt and Kim
Matt and Kim
Matt & Kim are a dance punk duo residing in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. The group was formed in 2005 and is composed of Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino...
, Japanther
Japanther
Japanther is an art project, established by Matt Reilly and Ian Vanek, then students at Pratt Institute. Japanther was featured in the 2006 Whitney Biennial and the 2011 Venice Biennale, and has collaborated with a diverse pool of artists such as gelitin, Penny Rimbaud, Gee Vaucher, Dan Graham,...
, Animal Collective
Animal Collective
Animal Collective is an experimental psychedelic band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare , Panda Bear , Deakin , and Geologist...
, Black Dice
Black Dice
Black Dice is an experimental electronic music group currently based in Brooklyn, New York, USA.-Early years:Black Dice formed in spring 1997 soon after guitarist Bjorn Copeland met drummer Hisham Bharoocha and bassist Sebastian Blanck when they were students at the Rhode Island School of Design...
, Xiu Xiu
Xiu Xiu
Xiu Xiu is an American avant-garde group originally from San Jose, California. The band is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart, who has been its only constant member since its inception in 2002. His current bandmate is Angela Seo...
, Ex Models
Ex Models
Ex Models is a no wave-influenced band based in Brooklyn, New York.-Career:The band, based around brothers Shahin and Shahryar Motia, was started while they were in high school. They reunited after college to make their first album, Other Mathematics, released in 2001 on Ace Fu Records...
, Deerhunter
Deerhunter
Deerhunter is an American four-piece indie rock group originating from Atlanta, Georgia. The band, consisting of Bradford Cox, Moses Archuleta, Josh Fauver, and Lockett Pundt, have described themselves as "ambient punk," though they incorporate a wide range of genres, including noise rock, art...
, Mount Eerie
Mount Eerie
Mount Eerie is an Anacortes, Washington-based band fronted by Phil Elverum. Elverum is the principal member of the band, but he has collaborated with many other musicians on his records.-History:...
, Dirty Projectors
Dirty Projectors
The Dirty Projectors aka David Longstreth includes Amber Coffman , Angel Deradoorian , Brian McOmber , Nat Baldwin , and Haley Dekle during live performances...
, Dan Deacon
Dan Deacon
Dan Deacon is an American composer and electronic musician based out of Baltimore, Maryland. Since 2003, Deacon has released eight albums under several different labels...
, Black Lips
Black Lips
Black Lips are a "Flower Punk" band from Atlanta, Georgia.-History:The band formed in 1999 in Dunwoody, Georgia after guitarist Cole Alexander and bassist Jared Swilley left the Renegades, and guitarist Ben Eberbaugh left the Reruns. Alexander and Swilley were known for their crude antics both...
, Thermals, Hella
Hella (band)
Hella is an American band from Sacramento, California. They play a technical blend of math rock, noise rock, and experimental rock. The primary members of the band are Spencer Seim on electric guitar and Zach Hill on drums...
, Yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
, Spank Rock
Spank Rock
Spank Rock is an American hip-hop group consisting of rapper Naeem Juwan and producer Alex Epton . Their style is generally described as a mix of underground alternative rap and electro and rock.- Biography :...
, The Slits
The Slits
The Slits were a British punk rock band. The quartet was formed in 1976 by members of the bands The Flowers of Romance and The Castrators. The members were Ari Up , who died of cancer in October 2010, and Palmolive , with Viv Albertine and Tessa Pollitt replacing founding members, Kate Korus and...
, The Fall, and Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
's Thurston Moore
Thurston Moore
Thurston Joseph Moore is an American musician best known as a singer, songwriter and guitarist of Sonic Youth. He has also participated in many solo and group collaborations outside of Sonic Youth, as well as running the Ecstatic Peace! record label...
.
Patrick has received press coverage in The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
, Time Out New York, New York Press
New York Press
New York Press was a free alternative weekly in New York City, that was published from 1988 to 2011. During its lifetime, it was the main competitor to the Village Voice...
, and The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, among other outlets.
Patrick is widely acknowledged within the New York indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
community for consistently selecting and attracting edgy musical performers for his concerts, as well as for working to organize events for apparently little financial gain. Patrick also has expressed a dedication to punk
Punk ideology
Punk ideologies are a group of varied social and political beliefs associated with the punk subculture. In its original incarnation, the punk subculture was primarily concerned with concepts such as rebellion, anti-authoritarianism, individualism, free thought and discontent...
and D.I.Y. ethics in interviews.
Patrick continues to organize rock shows and has sought to open his own venue. Towards that goal, Patrick briefly threw shows at a larger, unlicensed space that he rented and operated independently, named the Llano Estacado.
The Llano Estacado was a performance and art space that Patrick operated in the model of several predecessor creative spaces in Brooklyn such as the Rubulad, the Mighty Robot, BPM, the Glasshouse, and the Woodser - with no legal status, but with Patrick's stated goal of eventually taking the space legal if the location proved feasible. The Llano Estacado operated successfully for several months in 2005, quickly attracting huge crowds and garnering favorable coverage from New York City media outlets such as The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, The New York Sun, The New York Post, New York Magazine, and others.
The rapid success of the Llano Estacado raised the notice of the local 94th Precinct NYPD police, who entered the building without a warrant in early March 2005 and issued several summonses to Patrick and other collaborators who used the building for hosting events. Patrick successfully fought these citations, but did not risk using the building for events again.
Thereafter, Todd P resumed organizing shows at various bars, clubs, and other lofts and warehouses around the New York City, with his fan base and access to larger-drawing bands growing over time.
In interviews, Patrick has stated an interest in seeking out compelling bands and acts, coupled with an expressed loyalty to the ethics of D.I.Y punk rock. Traditionally, these ethics reject corporate influence, as well as a resistance to high ticket prices, velvet-rope elitism, v.i.p. policies, and publicity machine hype. Patrick frequently locates his events at all-ages and atypical venues, with the stated goal of fighting age discrimination.
Todd P arguably exerts influence in shaping the NYC and national indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
scenes, given his role as an independent show organizer and a "tastemaker" in a region boasting both a huge concentration of "in-the-know" music fans, as well as the base offices of many of the press outlets who cover independent music.db-spam
Sources
- Ghost website for the defunct Portland, Oregon venue Seventeen Nautical Miles
- Profile on Todd P in the Village Voice
- Brief profile of Todd P in Time Out New York
- New York Press article about Todd P
- Interview with Todd P expressing his ethos.